Philosophy
Apple Inc has been sued by iPhone customers in at least three complaints related to antenna problems on its newest model.
Apple launched the iPhone 4 last week to a huge groundswell of demand. But the launch was also plagued by complaints from some customers about poor call reception on the device when they held it in a certain way.
The problems have been a hot topic on the Internet, but it is unclear how many people have been affected. The issue does not seem to have hurt iPhone sales so far. Apple sold 1.7 million new iPhones in the first three days.
A putative class action filed Tuesday in the U.S. District court for the Northern District of California against Apple and AT&T Inc -- the iPhone's exclusive wireless carrier in the United States -- includes allegations of fraud by concealment, negligence, intentional misrepresentation and defective design.
"The iPhone 4 manifests design and manufacturing defects that were known to defendants before it was released which were not disclosed to consumers, namely, a connection problem caused by the iPhone 4's antenna configuration that makes it difficult or impossible to maintain a connection to AT&T's network," the lawsuit said.
It said Apple and AT&T have failed to provide customer support and customers have been left with only thee remedies: "hold their phones in an awkward and unnatural manner," pay a 10 percent restocking fee and return their phones, or pay $29.95 to buy one of Apple's cases that are said to fix the reception problem.
The iPhone 4 represents a complete redesign over the previous model. A band around the rim of the smartphone acts as its antenna.
The company responded to user complaints last week by saying the antenna performance of every wireless phone is impacted in some way by the how it is held, depending on where the antenna is located.
Apple and AT&T both decline to comment on Thursday.
In another purported class action complaint filed on Wednesday against Apple and AT&T, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Kevin McCaffrey and Linda Wrinn said they were sold "defective" iPhone 4 units, which drop calls and data service, "when held in a manner consistent with normal wireless phone use."
Both suits cite emails reportedly sent from Apple Chief executive Steve Jobs, responding to iPhone customers complaints' about reception. Those responses were widely circulated on the Internet.
In one response, Jobs said: "Just avoid holding it (the iPhone] in that way."
The cases are 10-02862 Goodglick v. Apple Inc, and 10-01776 McCaffrey et al v. Apple Inc. et al.
The shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple fell 1.5 percent to $247.80 in midday trading on the Nasdaq. The shares of Dallas-based AT&T fell 0.4 percent to $24.18 on the New York Stock Exchange.
"Ain't our fault" says Apple about their iPhone 4
- Good Ole "landline"
The iPhone Antenna Song Said Steve Jobs... "This has been blown so out of proportion, it's incredible," Jobs, 55, told reporters and analysts in an auditorium at Apple's Silicon Valley headquarters. "This is life in the smartphone world. Phones...
- Steve Jobs Being A Jerk
That's okay, operate in a denial form and this will come back to bite you in the butt. The consumer paid good money for this so-called quality [compromised] product and appears to be getting the shaft from Jobs. "Here's Your Free Case, Jerk"...
- Consumer Reports Gives "thumbs Down" On Apple's Iphone 4
"Consumer Reports Says iPhone 4 Has Design Flaw" by Nick Bilton July 12th, 2010 The New York Times Consumer Reports said in a blog post and accompanying video on Monday that widely reported signal problems with the iPhone 4, Apple’s latest mobile...
- Apple Is Culpable
If you cannot stand behind your product, get out of the business. "Apple Acknowledges Flaw in iPhone Signal Meter" by Miguel Helft July 2nd, 2010 The New York Times Apple customers love to complain about the reception on their iPhones. It turns out...
- "ain't Our Fault" Says Apple About Their Iphone 4
Wellllll, yes it's a physics issue but they should have known about the problem during their research, development, and testing phases. They are still responsible. "Apple antenna issue a 'physics problem,' not a software problem" by Erica...
Philosophy
Power to the people in iPhone 4 debacle
"Consumers sue Apple over iPhone antenna problems"
by
Gabriel Madway
July 2nd, 2010
Reuters
by
Gabriel Madway
July 2nd, 2010
Reuters
Apple Inc has been sued by iPhone customers in at least three complaints related to antenna problems on its newest model.
Apple launched the iPhone 4 last week to a huge groundswell of demand. But the launch was also plagued by complaints from some customers about poor call reception on the device when they held it in a certain way.
The problems have been a hot topic on the Internet, but it is unclear how many people have been affected. The issue does not seem to have hurt iPhone sales so far. Apple sold 1.7 million new iPhones in the first three days.
A putative class action filed Tuesday in the U.S. District court for the Northern District of California against Apple and AT&T Inc -- the iPhone's exclusive wireless carrier in the United States -- includes allegations of fraud by concealment, negligence, intentional misrepresentation and defective design.
"The iPhone 4 manifests design and manufacturing defects that were known to defendants before it was released which were not disclosed to consumers, namely, a connection problem caused by the iPhone 4's antenna configuration that makes it difficult or impossible to maintain a connection to AT&T's network," the lawsuit said.
It said Apple and AT&T have failed to provide customer support and customers have been left with only thee remedies: "hold their phones in an awkward and unnatural manner," pay a 10 percent restocking fee and return their phones, or pay $29.95 to buy one of Apple's cases that are said to fix the reception problem.
The iPhone 4 represents a complete redesign over the previous model. A band around the rim of the smartphone acts as its antenna.
The company responded to user complaints last week by saying the antenna performance of every wireless phone is impacted in some way by the how it is held, depending on where the antenna is located.
Apple and AT&T both decline to comment on Thursday.
In another purported class action complaint filed on Wednesday against Apple and AT&T, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Kevin McCaffrey and Linda Wrinn said they were sold "defective" iPhone 4 units, which drop calls and data service, "when held in a manner consistent with normal wireless phone use."
Both suits cite emails reportedly sent from Apple Chief executive Steve Jobs, responding to iPhone customers complaints' about reception. Those responses were widely circulated on the Internet.
In one response, Jobs said: "Just avoid holding it (the iPhone] in that way."
The cases are 10-02862 Goodglick v. Apple Inc, and 10-01776 McCaffrey et al v. Apple Inc. et al.
The shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple fell 1.5 percent to $247.80 in midday trading on the Nasdaq. The shares of Dallas-based AT&T fell 0.4 percent to $24.18 on the New York Stock Exchange.
"Ain't our fault" says Apple about their iPhone 4
- Good Ole "landline"
The iPhone Antenna Song Said Steve Jobs... "This has been blown so out of proportion, it's incredible," Jobs, 55, told reporters and analysts in an auditorium at Apple's Silicon Valley headquarters. "This is life in the smartphone world. Phones...
- Steve Jobs Being A Jerk
That's okay, operate in a denial form and this will come back to bite you in the butt. The consumer paid good money for this so-called quality [compromised] product and appears to be getting the shaft from Jobs. "Here's Your Free Case, Jerk"...
- Consumer Reports Gives "thumbs Down" On Apple's Iphone 4
"Consumer Reports Says iPhone 4 Has Design Flaw" by Nick Bilton July 12th, 2010 The New York Times Consumer Reports said in a blog post and accompanying video on Monday that widely reported signal problems with the iPhone 4, Apple’s latest mobile...
- Apple Is Culpable
If you cannot stand behind your product, get out of the business. "Apple Acknowledges Flaw in iPhone Signal Meter" by Miguel Helft July 2nd, 2010 The New York Times Apple customers love to complain about the reception on their iPhones. It turns out...
- "ain't Our Fault" Says Apple About Their Iphone 4
Wellllll, yes it's a physics issue but they should have known about the problem during their research, development, and testing phases. They are still responsible. "Apple antenna issue a 'physics problem,' not a software problem" by Erica...